29 April,2026 08:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
The deceased, Abdullah Dokadia, his wife Nasreen, and their daughters Ayesha and Zainab (right) The building where the family resided. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
A day after four members of a Pydhonie family died after consuming watermelon, authorities on Tuesday urged caution, saying no action will be taken against fruit vendors for now.
Speaking to mid-day, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Shridhar Dube Patil made it clear that the department will not rush into a crackdown. "Only once the exact cause of death is established will we decide the further course of action - and that too, only if it is proven that the deaths were due to watermelon, not otherwise," he said.
The statement comes amid rising panic and speculation across South Mumbai, with rumours linking the deaths directly to contaminated fruit.
Senior Police Inspector Rais Shaikh of JJ Marg police station said samples had been sent for analysis to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Santacruz. "The reports will take at least a few days. We are still investigating the case from all angles," added Shaikh. Importantly, the police have not confirmed the watermelon theory so far. "At this stage, nothing is conclusive. We are not ruling anything in or out based on assumptions," the officer added.
Sources said multiple angles - including food contamination, medical history, and possible external factors - are being examined. Officials stressed that conclusions would be drawn only after the scientific reports are in.
The deaths of Abdullah Dokadia, his wife and two daughters on April 26 had triggered widespread concern after relatives claimed the family fell ill hours after eating watermelon after dinner.
For now, authorities are asking citizens to stay calm and avoid spreading unverified information.
>> Forensic report expected in next few days
>> FDA action only if link is proven
>> Police probing all possible causes
